Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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Defence Lecture: The end of the holiday from history
Iain Martin, journalist, broadcaster and author

Date: Thursday 5 February
Time: 5.30 – 6.30pm
Location: Curtis Auditorium, Herschel Building, Newcastle University

When the Russian full scale invasion of Ukraine took place in 2022 it shattered the lazy assumptions about defence. What should have been obvious about the autocracies since Crimea in 2014 and the emergence of a new Chinese leader in 2012 was now unavoidable. Our states - particularly in North Western Europe - would have to spend more on defence and do much more to safeguard our security. We are only beginning to understand the ripple effects of this change - on the future of conflict, globalisation, technology, supply chains, resilience, alliances and the way we live.

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